Bobbin-winder for sewing machines



' P 1936- R. L. PLUMLEY 2,055,387

BOBBIN WINDER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1955 ken 5 the base I,

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,055,387 BOBBIN-WINDER FOR SEWING MACHINES Raymond L. Plumley, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationNovember 1, 1935, Serial No. 47,769

. 11 Claims.

This invention relates to bobbin-winders for sewing machines and it has as its primary objects to provide a device of that nature which is simple in construction and therefore inexpensive to '5 manufacture; which readily may be thrown into or out of operation; which may be operated without actuating the sewing mechanism; and which will facilitate removal of the bobbin from the bobbin-holding spindle. V

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, -combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The several features of the invention and the advantages attained therebywill bereadily understood from the following description in conjunction with the drawing which has been annexed as a part of this disclosure and which depicts a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is'a side elevation of a sewing machine provided with the present improved bobbin-winder. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing, in full lines,

, the bobbin-winder in its operative position, and

illustrating, 1n dotted lines, its inoperative position." Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the locking device which is adapted to maintain the bobbin-winder 30 in its inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing'the means for locking the bobbin-holding spindle against rotary movement, thereby to facilitate removal of the bobbin therefrom. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.4, showing a modified form of spindle locking means.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the invention is disclosed as embodiedin a sewing machine having a frame comprising a base I, a standard 2, a bracket-arm '3 and a head 4.

, 4o Rotatably journaled in the base I is a main or driving shaft 5 adapted to actuate (by connections notshown) the various elements of the stitch-forming and fabric-feeding-mechanisms. Motion is transmitted to the shaft 5 by a belt 6 ,gswhich engages a combined pulleyand handwheel 1 adapted to be secured to the shaft 5, by means later to'be described. The belt 6 may be driven from any suitable source'of power such, for example, i as by an electric motor mounted in as shown in United States patent to Hohmann, No. 2,012,606, August 27,1935.

During the operation of thesewing machine, .the belt-wheel is secured to the main shaft. and

drives the latter.

As shown in Fig. 2,,the con 11.155, nection between the belt-wheel and the shaft is effected by frictionally clamping the flange portion I of the wheel] to an annular clutch disk 8, the hub of which is secured upon the shaft 5 by a pin 9. This clamping action is provided by a manually rotatable nut l0, threaded upon the end 5 of the shaft 5 and engaging a washer ll which, in turn, abuts the hub of the belt-wheel. Rotation of the nut in one direction forces the flange l of the wheel I into driving contact with the annular clutch-disk 8 and establishes a drive from the belt-wheel to the shaft 5 to operate the sewing machine. Rotation of the nut in the opposite direction releases the clutch and'permits the belt-wheel to rotate idly on the portion 5 of the shaft 5 for the purpose of winding bobbins, 15 as hereinafter will be more fully described.

The rear end of the shaft 5 is formed with an axial bore l2 providing a chamber adapted to contain lubricant which is transmitted, through radial ducts I3, to that portion 5 of the shaft on which the hub of the wheel 1 is journaled. Wicking to in the bore l2 acts to retain the lubricant and regulate the rate at which it is transmitted to the wheelbearing.

A cap-screw l4, threaded into the end of the bore l2, serves the dual function of holding the lubricant in the bore and of preventing the clamp-nut ID from being inadvertently removed from the shaft 5. l

The bobbin-winder per secomprises a spindle l5 rotatably'jour'naled and axially movable in a bore Hi formed in a bearing It provided by the base I. One end of this spindle projects through an opening H in an end wall I of the base and has secured thereto a disk l8 adapted,'in one position of the spindle, to bear-against the side of the belt 6 to receive rotary motion therefrom. .The end portion l5 of; the spindle beyond the disk I8 is tapered slightly and is adapted to receive and frictionallyretain thereon the bobbins B to be wound.

The spindle I5 is normally urgedinto its operative position, i. e. the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, by a spring-pressed plunger l8 located mainlywithin the bore l6 of the'bearing, l6 and having its head portion 19 forcibly engaging the end of the spindle. A coil-spring 20, surrounding the plunger l9 between the head thereofand a wall ofthe bearing 16 through which theend of the plunger passes, provides the force for shifting thev spindle into its operative orbobbin-winding position. I:

At the completion of a bobbin-winding operation the operator presses againstthe side of the bobbin and Shifts; the spindle from, its full line position, Fig. 2, to its dotted line position. This breaks the driving connection between the belt 5 and the disk I8 and aligns an annular groove 2|, formed in the spindle I5, with the inner free end 22 of a spring-pressed locking pin 22, slidingly mounted in a side-wall of the base The instant the groove 2| is aligned with the pin 22 a spring 23, interposed between the side-wall l and a nut 24'-th-readed on the pin, projects the free end of the pin into the annular groove 2|, as shown in Fig. 3, and holds the spindle in its innermost or inoperative position.

Inasmuch as the bobbin must be securely fixed to the tapered end of the spindle during the winding action, it follows that-some difficulty may be experienced in removing the filled bobbin therefrom. It has been found that the bobbin may be most readily removed from the spindle by slightly turning it while exerting a lateral pull thereon.

v To facilitate relative turning between the bobbin and the spindle, this invention provides novel means for locking the spindle against rotary movement, whereby rotation of the bobbin by the operator will free it from the spindle. This looking means comprises a socket 25 (see Figs. 2 and 3) formed in the spindle |5 intermediate the walls of the annular groove 2| and into which the free end 22 of the spring-pressedlocking pin 22 snaps (see Fig. 4) when the spindle is slightly rotated after it has been shiftedaxially to its inoperative position. The socket, is preferably formed as shownin Figs. 3 and 4, i. e.. with its side walls tapered. This construction provides ready entry for the end of the, locking pin and preventsbinding between the pin. and the walls of the socket whilesecurely locking the spindle against-rotation. However, if desired, the socket may be smaller, as indicated at 25 in Fig. 5-and. the end of the locking pinmay be-taperedas shown at 22 to snugly engage the side walls of. the socket.

To initiate a bobbin-winding operation, an empty bobbin is placed upon the tapered end of the spindle preferably with aslight turning motion which frictionallybinds the bobbin thereon. The operator then, grasps the head 22 of. the locking pin 22 and pulls it outwardly, in opposition. to the spring 23, thereby withdrawing the end 22 of the pin from the locking notch 25- and fromthe annular groove2| inthe spindle 5. The spring-plunger l9 thereupon shiftsthe spindle axially and forces the disk |81into driving contact with: the driving belt 6.

From-the'foregoing itwill be perceived that this invention has-providedaan improved and simpliformofbobbin-winder which readily may be thrown into andout of action and which is provided' with means for both holding the bobbinwindingspindle initsinoperativeposition and for locking it against rotation to facilitate removal of the bobbintherefrom. J,

'Havingfthus-set forth the nature of the invention, what Iclaimherein is:

1. In a. sewing, machine having a frame, a shaft journaled therein, a beltwheel'on said'shaft and a driving belt engaging. said belt-wheel; a bobbin- 'winder comprising aibobbin-holding spindle rotatablygandltransl'atably journaled in said frame, a disk secured to said spindle and adaptedto be driven fromsaid'belt, spring means acting on said spindle normally tending to shift said disk into contactwith said belt, and detent means acting in opposition to said spring means to maintain said disk. out, of'contact with said belt.

2. In a sewing machine having a frame, a shaft.

journaled therein, and driving means for said shaft; a bobbin-winder comprising a bobbinholding spindle rotatably and translatably journaled in said frame and having operative and inoperative axial positions, means effective when 5 said spindle is in its operative position to rotate the spindle from said driving means, spring means acting on said spindle normally tendingto shift it into its operative position, and manually controlled detent means acting in opposition to said spring means to maintain said spindle in its inoperative position.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame, a shaft journaled therein, a belt-wheel on said shaft and a driving beltengaging said belt-wheel; a bobbin-winder comprising a bobbin-holding spindle rotatably journaled in said frame and axially movable therein substantially parallel with said shaft from operative to inoperative positions, a disk secured to said spindle and adapted, in the operative position of said spindle, to be driven from said belt, a spring plunger acting on one end of said spindle and normally tending to shift it into its operative position, and manually con: trolled means actingv in opposition to said spring means to maintain said spindle in. its inoperative position and to locksaid spindle against turning.

4. In a sewing machine having a frame, a shaft journaled therein and driving means therefor; a bobbin-winder comprising. a. bobbin-holding spin.- dle rotatably journaled and axially movable in said frame and having operative and. inoperative axial positions, means effective when said spindle is in its operativepositionto rotate the spin..- 7 dle from said driving means, spring means act- 35 ing on said spindle normally tending to shift it into its. operative position, manually controlled detentmeans acting ire-opposition to said spring means to. maintain said spindle inits inoperative position, and means effective when said spindle is. in its inoperative position to lock the spindle against turning. f

5.. In a sewing machine the combination with a. frame,- a. shaft rotatably journaled therein,v a drive-wheel'having a bearing on said shaft, means to lubricate said wheel bearing, manually actuated means to secure. said drive-wheel to said shaft, and a power driven belt engaging said drivewheel to. rotate. the latter; of a bobbin-winder comprising a bobbin-holding spindle supported by saidframe and rotatably and axially movable therein, a spindle-driving disk secured to said spindle and adapted to engage said belt,.a'springplunger engaging said spindle and normally tending. to shift it axially from an inoperative position toan. operative position thereby to establish adriving. contact between said belt and said disk, manually controlled locking. means adapted to prevent said spindle from being moved by Saud spring-plunger, and means active when said spindle is in its inoperative position to prevent turning of said spindle.

6. In a: sewing machine havinga framaa shaft journaledtherein. and driving means. carried bysaid shaft; a bobbin-winder comprising a rotatable and translatable bobbin-holding spindle mounted in said frame substantially parallel'with said shaft, a spindle-rotating disk secured to said engage said disk with said driving means, and

detent means rendered effectivewhen said. spindle is shifted to its other axial position to restrain lfi said spindle from movement under the influence of said impositive means.

7. A bobbin-winder comprising a rotatable spindle having a free end adapted to receive a bobbin, means to rotate said spindle to effect a bobbin-winding operation, and means to lock said spindle against rotation to facilitate removal of the bobbin therefrom.

8. A bobbin-winder comprising a rotatable and axially movable bobbin-holding spindle, means including a member on said spindle and a driver therefor for rotating said spindle to effect a bobbin-winding operation, yielding means tending to shift said spindle axially in one direction to an operative position to effect a driving contact between said member and its driver but permitting the spindle to be moved in the opposite direction to an inoperative position, and locking means to hold said spindle in its inoperative position.

9. A bobbin-winder comprising a rotatable and axially movable bobbin-holding spindle having operative and inoperative positions, impositive means for shifting said spindle axially from its inoperative position to its operative position, means active when said spindle is in its operative position to rotate the spindle thereby to effect a bobbin-winding operation, manually controlled means operative in opposition to said impositive means for holding said spindle in its inoperative position, and means eifective when said spindle is in its inoperative position to look it against turning.

10. A bobbin-winder comprising a rotatable and axially movable spindle provided with a bobbin-receiving end, an annular groove and a looking socket, said spindle being shiftable axially from operative to inoperative positions, means eifective when said spindle is in its operative position to rotate said spindle, impositive means normally tending to shift said spindle to its operative position but permitting it to be shifted manually to its inoperative position, a springpressed plunger adapted, when the spindle is shifted to its inoperative position, to enter said annular groove to prevent endwise movement of said spindle and to enter said socket to prevent turning thereof. 7

11. A bobbin-winder as set forth in the preceding claim in which the locking socket is formed in the spindle between the side walls of the annular groove and in which a portion of. the springpressed plunger extends to the outside of the machine for manipulation by the operator.

RAYMOND L. PLUMLEY. 

